Races in the 2002 New York Adventure Race Series

I. THE NEW YORK ADVENTURE RACING ASSOCIATION

A. Organization

NYARA is a non-profit corporation managed by a Board of Officers and Directors.

Organizers of The New York Race Series and NYARA reserve the right to add, modify, replace or cancel venues or events at any time.

Should any modifications be deemed necessary, event staff will contact all teams so that they may make any adjustments in training or equipment that will be required in the race.

II. THE NEW YORK ADVENTURE RACE SERIES

A. April 2002 thru June 2002

Mandatory registration, equipment review, and bike check-in begin the night prior at 4pm thru midnught.

All competitors MUST attend race briefing and registration the night prior to each event.

Skills and equipment gear check are as follows:

• Navigation skills review, control points, course and venue descriptors
• Paddling and water skills review, and boat handling techniques with non-competitor vessel traffic, proper return of kayaks and or canoes
• Biking equipment, course rules and regulations, and safety review
• Emergency procedure review and operation of emergency radios

B. Race Timing

The official race clocks will begin at the start of the race and stop for each team when an entire team has crossed the finish line.

Time periods may be adjusted to compensate for unforeseen circumstances necessitating the addition or deletion of time to the event race clock or team's race time.

Any mandatory adjustments should be applied across the board to all teams, unless the adjustments are due to infractions, penalties or other unforeseen circumstances.

Individual team times will not necessarily reflect race-organization checkpoint delays or adjustments deemed necessary.

Any adjustments that would reflect against a team's time will be reviewed by a panel of judges to ensure that any timing adjustments are distributed fairly and are necessary.

The panel of judges reserves the right at all times to add bonuses or subtract penalties to the overall event clock time or any stages within the race.

C. Team Finishing Classification

All team finishing classifications will be based on when final team members cross the finish line, as calculated by the event timing committee, and taking into account any adjusted time factors required throughout the race course and venues.

Teams with the fastest overall times will be ranked after any timing adjustments to determine the winner and final ranking. A reference time will be calculated when the last team member has crossed the finish line before the cutoff period.

D. Checkpoints and Controls

Each team will be supplied with an official race passport.

All time recordings will be performed when the last team member passes or arrives at the manned checkpoint. Certain unmanned checkpoints will have punches and must be used in the passport control book.

Missed check points will result in time penalties and cause the team to be excluded from overall ranking, unless circumstances determined by the race organization are deemed otherwise. A team can backtrack to the missed checkpoint and then can resume racing without added penalties, as long as any existing course venue time cutoffs are maintained in the team's progress.

Teams must, with full cooperation, follow the instructions given by officials and persons responsible for check points. Failing to follow directions given by officials and persons responsible may cause teams to face penalties and time sanctions, or could even lead to disqualification from competition.

E. Kayaking / canoeing and other waterborne activities

It is mandatory that all competitors wear Coast Guard Type III or better life jackets (personal flotation devices or P.F.D's) at all times while participating in all water events. Racers must provide their own life jackets.

All care should be given to respect and not damage any watercraft provided by or through the New York Adventure Racing Association.

Any damaged watercraft may result in time penalties and may not be replaced or repaired by the organization.

Every team must carry appropriate waterproof bags to contain and keep equipment watertight while traveling on waterways, this includes but not limited to the teams NYARA supplied emergency radio.

All team members must at all times remain grouped together and within close proximity, generally within 50 yards or less, always within sight of each in all venues. Teams may not split up unless directed by their passport or a race official.

F. Mountain Bikes

All competitors will use and ride their own mountain bikes. Bike towing within teams will not incur a penalty, but must be performed safely - with careful consideration to terrain, traffic, and speed.

Any and all mechanical problems encountered while racing will be handled by team members. No other outside assistance is allowed while on the racecourse.

Without exception, all racers will wear their biking or other approved helmets at all times while participating in mountain biking sections (see mandatory mountain biking equipment section).

Teams need to remain grouped together within sight of each other throughout all mountain biking venues.

G. General

All racers must wear unaltered provided racing bibs or jerseys on the outside of their clothing or P.F.D.'s AT ALL TIMES while racing on the course. Time penalties or possible disqualification may apply if racing bibs are not visible during the competition (there are exceptions in transition areas while racers are changing clothes). No alterations of the racing bibs are allowed.

Teams must complete all disciplines as identified in race instructions, or as modified by the race organization, in order to remain ranked in competition.

Any failure to comply with mandatory safety precautions may trigger time penalties or disqualification from the race.

III. TEAM WITHDRAWAL FROM COMPETITION

In the case of a team withdrawal, the team must inform the racing organization by the best means available and in the shortest possible time, usually by going to the closest check point or closest race official and informing them of intent to withdraw. Official withdrawal occurs upon surrender of the passport to a race official.

In no instance other than absolute emergency should a team use a distress signal for notification.

If a team fails to notify the racing organization of its withdrawal and the organization is forced to bring about a specific search for the team, the financial responsibility of said search could fall on each competitor who has not taken the necessary steps to officially inform the racing organization of whereabouts and withdrawal from the competition.

In cases where a team has lost members due to the inability to continue for health or other reasons, the team may be allowed to continue to complete the race course UNRANKED if time allows.

In the event that a team member cannot continue with his team, the entire team must wait until help has arrived for the disabled team member before consideration can be given to allowing the remaining team members to resume racing.

Any emergency evacuation, either by land or by helicopter, is reserved only for sick and injured competitors. Fees associated with this type of rescue are borne by the injured party.

Any failure to comply with mandatory safety precautions may trigger time penalties or disqualification from the race.

IV. JUDGES, PENALTIES

A. Penalty Summary

This list is designed as a guideline for all teams and does not constitute all situations that may be penalized. All racers must wear unaltered, provided racing bibs or jerseys visible at all times while on the race course or face possible disqualification.

Any team missing a checkpoint must return to that point before continuing. The missed checkpoint can carry time penalties, can cause the team to be unranked, and can also disqualify the team from winning the overall start to finish of the race.

Teams will be penalized for failing to return paddles, kayaks, canoes or other equipment supplied by the race organization. Deposits may also be lost in the case of missing or damaged equipment.

Any team failing to follow any mandatory equipment requirements, safety regulations or regulations with regard to equipment may be penalized or disqualified. Any unfair or unsportsman-like behavior or willful destruction of land, or equipment may be met by penalties or disqualification. Any intentional team sabotage will lead to team disqualification.

Any unauthorized transportation beyond that which is allowable in the venues in each stage of the race will result in penalties or disqualification. For example, while racing in water venues, no other method of travel other than supplied watercraft is allowable. Biking portions may also a "hike-a-bike" section, where bikes must be carried by individuals and the bike tires cannot touch the ground.

Any team or team members failure to follow directions by authorized race personnel may result in time penalties or disqualification.

Any considered disqualification will be reviewed by a panel of judges to help ensure fairness.

No teams may alter the composition of a team during competition. Any composition changes must be authorized and recorded by authorized personnel only, and may eliminate a team from ranked status or the race.

Throughout the racecourse, all trash must be carried out by the competitors. In transition areas, or other designated race areas, teams are responsible for clean-up and policing their space. There are no exceptions to this rule. Failure to comply will incur time penalties for offending teams.

All safety gear required for each venue and each event must be in place and worn by the competitors in order to proceed with that specific venue. If teams do not have the safety gear to proceed in the venue they will be stopped at that point and will not continue until the required safety gear is in place. Teams may retrace their steps or return to the transition area for re-equipping with their support team.

Any use of any forbidden equipment such as G.P.S., night vision goggles, I.V. bags, or weapons (excluding the folding knife requirement), will result in penalties or disqualification.

Any use of unauthorized assistance along the racecourse may constitute a time penalty or disqualification.

Teams may aid other teams without time penalty.

Any use of maps other than those provided by the event staff is not allowed, and will result in time penalties or disqualification.

B. Panel of Judges

There will be a panel of judges available throughout the entire racecourse that will include professional guides, veteran adventure racers, and board members from NYARA. The judges will help ensure that all competitors abide by the race's rules, regulations and appropriate standards of conduct. The judges will further help ensure that rules, which have been applied to one team, will apply to all teams.

The judges will carefully evaluate and rule on any breech of race regulations, with safety being of utmost importance in all cases.

Protests or explanations must be submitted in writing within one hour of a team's finish to be considered.

C. Power of the Judges

The appointed judges, as a panel, will have the responsibility of imposing any necessary time penalties or disqualifications.

The judges will review any breech of racing regulations. The judges will review and rule on any complaints received from teams or submitted to them by Event Staff.

The judges will decide on any race-related changes, venue changes or any necessary regulations that may need to be imposed in the course of the event. Adventure races, by their very nature, are filled with challenges and situations that cannot always be predicted. Therefore the race organization reserves the right to change, modify, add or delete any part of the course at any time.

The judges have the power to sanction teams by time penalties or by expelling a team from the race if necessary. The judges will rule on all rules and regulations and they may also award time bonuses where appropriate or indicated.

VI. THE COMPETITORS

A. Individuals

All registration will be taken on a per team basis. Teams must be comprised of three racers. The premier category is the three-person coed team category. Open division categories exist for a limited number of teams of three persons of any sex.

Each team member must be capable of performing the activities of all venues including orienteering in an outdoor wilderness setting, and be prepared to plot their own UTM coordinates.

All competitors must additionally comply with any specific rules or regulations dictated by the organizations and agencies that have arranged passage through the lands, localities, counties and states upon which the race is run.

All competitors agree to sign off on, and to provide biographical and medical information, film and video releases, or other waivers.

Each competitor is solely responsible for his or her involvement in the competition. Each competitor will be the sole judge of whether or not he or she should begin and continue competing, unless after consulting with the NYARA medical staff, is advised against continuing the competition.

In all health-related situations, the medical director (EMD)on site shall have the last word as to whether a competitor can safely continue or not.

All competitors must be over the age of 18 years.

All competitors are responsible for familiarizing and preparing themselves for any health and fitness requirements or conditioning for the regions where events will take place.

All competitors must be able to swim wearing a PFD.

If there is a split or break up within a team competing, some members may opt to continue on to finish the race, however they are no longer ranked. If this situation arises, the team must notify and be given clearance to continue by the race organization.

All competitors must possess the abilities and qualifications required by NYARA in the disciplines of mountain biking, Canoeing, orienteering, or other specific events or venues that may be performed in the race.

All competitors are liable for review and to pass ability tests to compete in the race, which will be set up at the registration the night prior to the event. Ability tests will include:

• Navigation/orienteering review
• Paddling and (open) water safety review
• Mountain biking safety gear/skill review

Competitors must be able to pass the basic requirements of skills review, communicating and demonstrating proficiency in the listed areas, in order to be allowed to compete in the race.

All racers will agree to release the New York Adventure Racing Staff, New York Adventure Racing Association Inc., The City and the State of New York, The State of Pennsylvania, State of New Jersey in advance from all criminal or civil responsibility, in the case of personal accident or damage to property, or other personal injury in the New York Adventure Race Series.

B. Registration

Team spots are reserved on a first-come first-served basis, with the submission of the race fee. NYARA reserves the right to approve all team registrations. A team is fully registered when the registration fee is paid in full.

Teams are eligible for competition when the team is fully registered, and all necessary paperwork, waivers; gear check and skills reviews are completed.

In the event of a team withdrawal, any registration fees will become credits towards future NYARA races, memberships, or clinic fees less handling fees (handling fees are 15% of the regular registration rate).

Any subsequent commercial use of photos must have express written approval of the New York Adventure Racing Association.

Professional video cameras are forbidden except where specifically allowed by NYARA. Footage shots with any personal or professional video or still cameras cannot be used for broadcast without express written permission from the New York Adventure Racing Association. All such footage and recorded images will be made available for use by the New York Adventure Racing Association. Any film, audio and photography production rights of the New York Adventure Racing Association are reserved by the New York Adventure Racing Association.

IX. EQUIPMENT

A. See individual race for AUTHORIZED EQUIPMENT

X. SAFETY

A. Procedures to be Used in the Case of Emergency

Extreme emergencies would be any type of serious bodily injury or accident or exposure that would endanger life or limb. In this type of case, teams are to make every effort to contact race organization personnel at the nearest checkpoint for emergency support for these situations.

Any team coming upon a team or person who has been injured or who is in peril must stop and render assistance, if assistance is needed. Teams helping other teams may be awarded time bonuses for their efforts.

The race organizers may adjust, modify or change the racecourse if a portion of the course is a safety threat, or for any reason deemed necessary by the racing organization.

XI. INSURANCE

A. Liability

The race organization carries event third party liability policy, as mandated and required by the federal, state, county and other entities involved in the oversight of the event.

B. Miscellaneous

A day or year membership in the USARA (United States Adventure Racing Association) is required for any racer participating in the New York Adventure Race Series in 2002. USARA sanctioned events are required to adhere to a minimum set of safety standards for adventure racing. Membership license details are as follows:

USARA single event license $8.00
Year - long license $35.00

Membership license fees must be made payable directly to the USARA, and payments may be included with registration fees to NYARA, or can be submitted directly to

USARA
PO BOX 2825
Georgetown, Texas 78627-2825
(512) 763-1050

For participant racer eligibility in a this event, receipts or a membership license card from the USARA must be provided to the staff at race time if the participant elects to send the membership license fee directly to the USARA before race time.

The New York Adventure Racing Association will not be held responsible for theft or loss of any objects or materials, or anything else which has been entrusted to the organization, transported in its vehicles or left in its perimeter areas. Any recovered lost, missing, or abandoned racer or support crew equipment can be shipped back to the owner at the owner's expense.

XII. MEDICAL

A. Event First Aid

The New York Adventure Racing Association will be providing medical support services during the event; we will have broad based regional medical support with round-the-clock coverage during race time. There will be available water and land rescue team and regionally available air rescue team. Experienced field personnel will head up our medical team.

Our medical support teams will be mobile as well as basing out of our major transition areas. It is expected that a race team experiencing an emergency will make every reasonable effort to contact medical support teams, members of staff with radios, or send for help to the closest transition area or manned Passport Control Point.

There are no penalties imposed for receiving emergency or supportive medical treatment.

B. Emergency Medical or Other Treatment Outside the Scope of the Event / First Aid

For any injuries serious enough, and beyond the scope of the provided field first aid treatments, the injured party will be handed off by medical team staff to the closest available transport to a hospital or facility capable of handling the emergency.

Transport, depending on the type of emergency, may involve county agencies and support services. We recommend that all racers be capable of covering the minimum deductibles if an emergency should arise, requiring outside assistance or transport to a local hospital.

XIII. TEAM SPONSORSHIP

Team sponsors or suppliers will have the opportunity for exposure for their racers on clothing and equipment, except for those spots reserved for NYARA and key race event sponsors.

Racers should check with the racing organization for any items of a questionable nature.

XIV. SERIES PRIZES AND AWARDS

As in all NYARA events some prizes will be given to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams in each division. Due to the tax status of NYARA cash prizes are forbidden.

XV. SERIES GRAND AND SECOND-PLACE PRIZES

Only PREMIERE DIVISION (Co-ed) teams that participate in both races are eligible for the grand and second-place prizes. Both times will be added together and the teams with the fastest and second-fastest overall times will win the grand prize and the second-place prize respectively. One original member from the first race (Saddle & Paddle) must be on the team for The Longest Day in order for teams to be eligible to win the prizes.

For the 2002 season the grand prize is:

One free 4-person entry to the 2002 Expedition Ohio adventure race (value of $2500).

Hotel accommodations for the start and finish of the race. (Two rooms for two days prior to the start of the race and two rooms for one day after the finish of the race.

Expedition Ohio is North America's first-ever expedition style stage race, featuring over 240 miles of mountain biking, horse backing, land/water navigation, trekking, 2-person land/water navigation, paddling, portaging, assisted swimming, rappelling, ascending, and traversing.

Expedition Ohio has over $50,000 in prize money and has some of the premier adventure racers in North American committed to making this one of the most challenging adventure races in North America.

The Second-Place Prize is:

One free three-person slot in the Balance Bar 24 Hour, New York race.

The winning teams may forfeit their prizes to the runners-up in the event they cannot race in Expedition Ohio or in the Balance Bar New York.

The Grand Prize winners must race as TEAM NYARA in Expedition Ohio Adventure Race. The second-place winner will race as TEAM NYARA in the Balance Bar 24 New York race. In the event that the winning team is under contractual agreement and cannot race under TEAM NYARA an alternate name (TEAM NYARA / PRO Sponsor Name) will be used. Teams that refuse to race under the TEAM NYARA name will forfeit their respective slots to the second or third place team.

END OF RULES AND REGULATIONS

New York Adventure Racing Association (NYARA)
Rev 2.6, 7 May 2002

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